Burst pipe left homes without water for five hours

Homes in Purleigh have been with little water pressure or no water at all

People living in a village were left without water for five hours after a pipe burst.

The main failed at about 06:40 BST, impacting about 150 households in The Street, Pump Lane, Mill Hill and Howe Green Road, in Purleigh, near Chelmsford and Maldon, Essex.

Essex and Suffolk Water installed a temporary overland pipe "to get water flowing again" while repairs were carried out, before "most supplies" were restored around midday.

A spokesperson said: "It may take a little time for the pressure to build up in our network. If your water is discoloured, please run your cold kitchen tap for up to 40 mins or until clear. Thanks for your patience."

Prior to carrying out work in the village, the water firm's engineers informed residents about the issue and installed a road closure at Lodge Lane.

At the time they apologised for "any inconvenience" caused and assured homeowners they were "doing everything" they could "to get things back to normal" as quickly as possible.